Cae coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shegt 1.

T. DAVIES. GAR COUPLING.

No. 358,208. Patented Nov. 23,1886.

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

T. DAVIES.

GAR COUPLING.

Patented Nov. 23, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS DAVIES, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

CAR-COUPLING.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353,208, dated November 23, 1886.

Application filed April 22, 1886.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS DAVIES, of the. city of Toronto, in the county of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, brewer, have invented an Improved Self-Acting Oar-Coupler, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to design a simple and effective selfacting car-coupler easily applied to an ordinary draw-head, so that the common coupling-pin may be used in connection with or independent of my automatic attachment; and it consists, essentially, of a coupling-bar having a spring-latch at each end designed to engage with notches formed within the draw-head, bars in the drawhead being provided for the purpose of releasing the latch, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure 1 is a perspective end view showing my improved self-acting car-con pler applied to an ordinary box-car. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail, partially in section, showing a drawhead provided with one form of latch. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing another form of latch. Fig. 4. is a detail of the form of latch shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail of the bar for releasing the latch. Fig. 6 is a detail of my coupling-bar, showing a different form of latch at each end. Fig. 7 represents an ordinary draw-head, showing holes bored in it to receive the releasingbars.

In the drawings like letters of reference in dicate corresponding parts in each figure; but before specifically pointing out the elements involved in my invention I may first explain that I am aware that many inventors have endeavored to devise a self-acting car-coupler applicable to existing forms of draw-heads; but in all of the devices I have personally examined they have either been defective and inoperative through faulty design or they have been so complicated as to render their introduction practically impossible.

In designing my invention I have sought to arrange the parts in the simplest manner possible, and at the same time to make so little change in the draw-head that the ordinary coupling pin and link may be used.

Although, as I have stated, the letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in each figure are the same, it will facilitate mat- Serial No. 199, 96. (No model.)

nected at their bottom ends by a plate, O, and

by a plate, D, at their upper ends,which plate is provided with an eye, E, or its equivalent, for the purpose hereinafter explained.

F are two wings, formed as shown in Fig. 4, and jointed together, as therein indicated, by a bolt passing through the hole d.

G is aspiral spring placed between the wings E, so as to force them outwardly. The form ofjoint between them, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, prevents the spring G from throwing them apart farther than is necessary to make them act as a spring-latch, which they consticute, as indicated in Fig. 2, where they are shown attached to the end of the coupling-bar H, which, supposing its other end is carried in a draw-head of another car, will, when its car is brought toward the next car, enter the latters draw-head. The spring-catch formed by the wings F compresses, so as to enter the draw-head,until they reach the notches a, when, by the act-ion of the spring G, they enter the said notches and securely hold thebar H within the draw-head, as shown, and theywill remain securely connected until the bars B are raised, so that their enlarged beveled edges 6 come in contact with the wings F and push them out of the notches to, thereby permitting the coupling-bar H to be withdrawn, when the bars B arepermitted to drop down into their initial position.

In Fig. 3 I show an equivalent form of latch. In this figure the wings F are not pivoted as in Fig. 2, but are simply placed in grooves made in the head of the bar H, and are held apart by the spring G.

In Fig. 6 the bar H is shown with one end having a latch like that shown in Fig. 2, and its other end with a latch like that shown in Fig. 3. I do not intend that each bar will be made with two kinds of latches, as indicated; but I merely show the two forms to explain that both forms are embraced in the one invention.

In Fig. 1 I show a simple form of raising the bars B for the purpose of releasing the coupling-bar H. In the arrangement shown in this figure a horizontal bar, I, is snitablyjournaled on the end of the car J, and has a crank-handle, K, at each end. An arm, L, is fastened to the bar I, and is connected to the eye E by means of a link, M. Thus, by pressing on either of the crank-handles K, the bars B may be raised, so as to release the couplingbar H, as before described, and this is accomplished without the necessity of going between the cars.

With the viewof enabling the uncoupling to be effected from the roof ofthecar, I connect the arm L by the rodN to the lever O, pivoted on the top of the car. It will thusbe seen that the uncoupling of my automatic car-coupler may be effected either from the roof or the side of the car.

On reference to Fig. 6 it will be seen that each end of the coupling-bar H has a hole, f, through it, which hole is intended to receive the ordinary coupling-pin should it be desired this may be effected without hurting the working of the end, which may be reversed, ifnecessary.

Fig. 7 suggests the facility with which an ordinary draw-head may be altered for my invention, it being merely necessary to bore two holes and out two notches on the inside of the head.

WVhat I claim as my invention is 1. The coupling-bar H, having wings F applied to its end or ends and actuated by a spring, G, in combination with the bars B, having beveled edges 6, and fitted into holes b behind the notches a, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The coupling-bar H, having wings F applied to its end or ends and actuated by a spring, G, in combination with the bars B, having beveled edges 6, and fitted into holes b behind the notches a, the arm L, connected at one end to the bars 13 and at its other end to the horizontal bar I, having crank-handles K formed on its ends, and the rod N, connecting the arm L to the pivoted lever O, the whole being arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The bars B, having beveled edges 0, and fitted into theholes b behind the notches a, in combination with the plates 0 and D, connecting the bars B together, so that the latter shall work in conjunction with each other.

Toronto, April 15, 1886.

THOS. DAVIES.

In presence of CHARLES C. BALDWIN, CHARLES H. Thomas. 

